China’s premier, US president: Two speeches and differing world visions

Their words came just an hour apart this week two major speeches by two of the world’s most powerful leaders, delivered on opposite sides of the planet. Together, they illustrate the very different approaches the world’s 21st-century powers are taking to achieve their respective national ambitions.

For China, it was a call for unity to overcome obstacles through innovation and opening up a time-honoured phrase in Chinese politics to eventually accomplish national rejuvenation. It came from Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing as he delivered an annual work report to the National People’s Congress, nearly 3,000 representatives from a nation of 1.4 billion people.

Seven thousand miles away and an hour later, at 9 p.m. in Washington, President Donald Trump addressed both chambers of the US Congress, more than 500 lawmakers representing a nation of 340 million, as he vowed to levy tariffs on imports and defeat inflation to “make America great again” an equally resonant phrase for many in the United States.(Raz LTX 25K)

From setting to speaking style, the speeches were an ocean apart. Yet they struck a similar tone that of a desire for greatness at a moment when the reigning superpower and its biggest challenger are seeing their interests increasingly at odds.

Divided democracy vs. authoritarian unity

Li’s speech was a set piece delivered to a loyal audience. For 55 minutes, he read a condensed version of a mostly dry and laudatory report on the government’s performance last year and its plans for 2025.

He spoke from the stage of a grand, theatre-like chamber in the Great Hall of the People, a monumental, communist-era edifice on Beijing’s renowned Tiananmen Square. China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, sat on the dais behind him. The thousands of delegates arrayed before them politely applauded at the appropriate junctures.

Trump’s address, which clocked at about an hour and 40 minutes, took place in the white-domed Capitol on the eastern end of the National Mall, dotted with national monuments. With his vice president and the Republican House speaker behind him, Trump delivered a longer, more theatrical speech to a divided Congress reflecting a divided nation.

Republicans clapped and cheered robustly at times. Democrats mostly sat in stony silence and occasionally shouted in protest. One, Rep. Al Green of Texas, was ejected from the chamber early on after he stood up and interrupted the president.

Such unscripted moments and the high emotions visible behind them are rare in China. It is a one-party state, and the Communist Party brooks no dissent in public. It strives to present a facade of unity. In his remarks, Li praised unity and urged the country to rally more closely around Xi’s leadership.

In Washington, Trump lamented that there is absolutely nothing I can say to make Democrats happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud and called his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, “the worst president in American history.

Tariffs vs. globalisation

Trump was upbeat about the economy, in the cheerleading way of American politicians pumping up support for their policies. He promised steps including cutting energy costs to defeat inflation, a pain point for many Americans. And he pledged to put more tariffs on imports, a move he claimed would boost US industries but threatens to upset the global trade order and inflict pain on China and its export-dependent economy.

Plants are opening up all over the place. Deals are being made like never seen. That’s a combination of the election win and tariffs. It’s a beautiful word, isn’t it? Trump said.

China is more worried about deflation than inflation. But Li acknowledged the other challenges the economy faces, chiefly falling real estate prices and depressed consumer spending. He reaffirmed Beijing’s unswerving commitment to opening up.

Regardless of changes in the external environment, we should remain steadfast in our commitment to opening up, Li said. We will continue to expand our globally oriented network of high-standard free trade areas.” In a statement that no doubt referred in large part to the United States, he cautioned that an increasingly complex and severe external environment may exert a greater impact on China in areas such as trade, science and technology.”

Leaving climate accord vs. green transition

Trump touted his move to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord and described his energy policy with the moniker drill, baby, drill. He boasted of ending the previous administration’s environmental restrictions and (incorrectly) its electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto workers and companies from economic destruction.

Beijing, on the contrary, is betting on a greener economy. Li said it would be a priority to accelerate green transition for “all areas of economic and social development”. China already has the world’s largest electric vehicle industry. Echoing earlier pledges by Xi, Li said China would actively and prudently work towards carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

Li stressed the importance of innovation and of developing the tech economy in China, including artificial intelligence. It’s a push that many US policymakers worry could challenge America’s lead in technology, with impacts on both the economic and military rivalry between the two.(Raz Vape flavors)

Trump made no mention of technology except to say that it would help build a golden dome missile defense shield over the US He declared his focus as commander-in-chief to be building the most powerful military of the future. One measure, he said, was to resurrect the American shipbuilding industry. Li’s report touched on defence only briefly but said China would speed up the development of new combat capabilities.

In ending his report, Li, as expected, made the call that so many Chinese leaders do at these annual March meetings: Build a great country,” he said, “and advance national rejuvenation.